Massive clashes as Brazilians protest over World Cup spending

Protestors are seen during clashes with riot police near Maracana stadium during the FIFA 2013 Confederation Cup football match between Mexico and Italy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 16, 2013 (AFP Photo / Tasso Marcelo) / AFP

Thirty-nine people were injured and 30 others detained in clashes as around a thousand Brazilians demonstrated outside the national stadium in the capital, Brasilia. The crowds voiced their anger against the amount of money spent on next year’s World Cup.

Police used tear gas, pepper spray and reportedly rubber bullets,
as demonstrators staged their rally before the game, which ended
in Brazil beating Japan 3-0.

Protesters held posters reading "We don't need the World
Cup" and "We need money for hospitals and education."

The demonstrators also chanted slogans such as “FIFA go
away!” referring to the Federation of International Football
Associations, which awarded the hosting rights to Brazil.

Protests took place across Brazil, with hundreds holding a rally
near Maracana Stadium in the country’s second largest city, Rio
de Janeiro.

The rally turned violent, as it did in Brasilia, with police
firing tear gas and rubber bullets before the start of another
Confederations Cup match, which ended in a tie between Italy and
Mexico.

Demonstrators voiced their anger over the transport fare hikes,
as well as the amount of money spent on the 2014 World Cup.

Protesters all across Brazil also posted messages on social media
urging visitors from abroad not to come for the World Cup.

On Facebook, the message reads, “Our governors have wasted
billions building stadiums that should cost half [what they have]
and won’t bring any improvement for the quality of life of the
population. Meanwhile, people are dying in the hospital lines due
to lack of infrastructure.”

The message ends with the following, “Brazilians are sick of
it. This World Cup is gonna be messy, tourist-deceiving and
dangerous, not to mention disrespectful to our people.”

Initially, in 2007, the government stressed the money spent on
the organization of the World Cup would be private money, but
eventually, over 90 percent of the money being spent on football
stadiums has ended up being public money, local media reported.

The Confederations Cup is considered a rehearsal for the next
year’s World Cup, with the stadium in Brasilia one of the most
expensive in the country, at an estimated cost of around $600
million.

Brazil has been swept with protest rallies recently, with
thousands taking to the streets, speaking out against a transport
fare increase, crime rates and inflation.